St Johnstone are in their best run of league form although this isn’t saying a lot but two wins and a draw in the last four matches is improvement. The last three were with new manager (old face) Craig Levein in charge. Most telling perhaps was the last fixture a 0-1 loss away at Tynecastle. … [continue reading]
Match Preview
Opportunity Knocks
The return of Lazio to Celtic Park provides the sort of opportunity Celtic need to take to register points in the group for a hope of achieving Brendan Rodgers stated aim of European football after the New Year. 16th placed opponents might just be what Celtic need to register their first Champions League group stage … [continue reading]
Going Dutch
I’ve already stated a slightly grumpy attitude to this seasons Champions League campaign given the glaring weaknesses in the squad not addressed but even more importantly the need to prioritise winning the league over anything else given the huge riches likely from revamped 2023-24 participation. But putting the miserabilism to one side for a moment, … [continue reading]
The Weeks Important Business
Celtic’s most important game of the week is on Saturday as the Champions return to league action against newly promoted Dundee. Miserabilism But what about the Feyenoord away Champions League tie on Tuesday? Well, I could get arsey here. Something along the lines of: “If Celtic are not interested in putting a Champions League competitive … [continue reading]
Better Balance and the Bench
Celtic follow up their 2-0 SPFL win against Kilmarnock by taking on the same opponent at Hampden Park in a League Cup semi-final. I’m not a great fan of playing the same team consecutively. I remember a run of four matches versus Dundee United under Ronnie Deila. The games become increasingly fractious and familiarity started … [continue reading]
Celtic Dare to Dream
It’s been a while. Celtic re-enter the rarefied atmosphere of a Champions League night under the lights, and perhaps the heavy rain, to take on European Champions Real Madrid – Europe’s most successful club. In the early part of this century, Celtic Park remained a fearful fortress for foreign foe. Manchester United, Barcelona, Benfica, AC … [continue reading]
Paradise Lost to Tiny Margins
Semi-final defeats can be considered most cruel. At least defeat in a final is presaged with built up and excitement for the end of season finale. And let’s be honest, letting your main rival have a shot at a Cup is bound to sting. Notwithstanding the discomfort then, I always try and come back to … [continue reading]
Derby Form – Tale of the Tape
A cliché often applied to Derby matches is “form goes out the window”. Except of course it doesn’t (in my head that comes out like Abbey Clancy to Peter Crouch in the Paddy Power advert – other bookmakers are available). Form is crucial in these matches. See Celtic’s numerous hammerings in the Rodgers era, and … [continue reading]
Who Has The Creative Derby Edge?
In tight matches the ability to create chances under pressure is key. With the Derby approaching, which squad has the most creative threat? This chart is a hybrid of xA data taken from Opta/FotMob and Key Chances data from Statsbomb. Both are per 90m. I’ve included all full backs, midfielders, wingers and strikers likely to … [continue reading]
A Lead into Temptation
The February derby at Celtic Park was a wonderful, raucous, pedal-to-the-metal, under the lights night for Celtic. Postecoglou’s new Celtic tore into Van Bronckhorst’s reigning Champions from the first minute and had established a 3-0 lead by half time. More importantly, Celtic had been utterly dominant playing the style of football the Australian espouses. By … [continue reading]